FDA rejects over the counter morning-after pill

[mu_agd]

I know there was a thread on this before, but i couldn't find it. Feel free to merge the two.

FDA rejects over-the-counter morning-after pill
Thursday, May 6, 2004 Posted: 9:55 PM EDT (0155 GMT)


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government rejected over-the-counter sales of morning-after birth control Thursday, citing concern about young teenagers' use of the pills. But regulators left open the possibility they will reconsider.

Proponents immediately accused the Food and Drug Administration of bowing to conservative political pressure -- noting that the agency had overruled its own scientific advisers, who had overwhelmingly called easier access to emergency contraception a safe way to prevent thousands of abortions.

In a letter to Barr Laboratories late Thursday, the FDA said there wasn't evidence that teens younger than 16 could safely use the pills without a doctor's guidance.

Warned of FDA's teen concern in February, Barr had proposed allowing nonprescription sales for everyone 16 and older, but requiring a prescription for anyone younger.


the rest of the article can be found here.